Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has launched its new portfolio of gizmos at the mecca of smartphone technology, the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.
The company started the event with the launched of its latest flagship the Mi Mix 3 (5G) followed by the aggressively priced Mi 9 which has been launched in two variants. The company also launched its new Mi LED Smart Bulb at 19.9 euros (Rs 1,603 approx)
The Mi Mix 3 has been priced at 599 euros (Rs 48,258 approx.) while the new Mi 9 will come in at 449 euros (Rs 36,173 approx.) for the 6GB+64GB variant and 499 euros (Rs 40,202 approx.) for the 8GB+128GB variant.
It is unlikely that these smartphones will come to the Indian market, considering most Mi flagship devices have stayed away, except for the Mi 4 and Mi 5.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 3
The Mi Mix 3 gets a a ceramic body with an aluminium frame and a 6.39-inch AMOLED FHD+ display that sports a screen-to-body ratio of almost 93 percent. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6 and the display is HDR compliant, as claimed by the company.
In terms of the hardware inside, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 is running on the latest Snapdragon 855 processor coupled with RAM options between 6GB and 8GB. There is also a 10GB option which comes with 256GB of on board storage.
It’s running on the latest Android 9.0 Pie on top of Xiaomi’s MIUI 10. The Mi Mix 3 does not let you expand storage but will be available in 128GB and 256GB storage variants.
In terms of optics, the Mi Mix 3 comes fitted with a dual rear camera setup that comprises of a 12+12-megapixel lens setup. The rear camera pops open thanks to a magnetic slider the phone comes with.
It also comes with a 24+2-megapixel front camera for selfies and is loaded with AI capabilities. The phone is also offering an in-display fingerprint scanner and wireless charging with support for a 10W wireless charger. The battery capacity of the phone is 3,200mAh.
Xiaomi says that the Mi Mix 3 is the first 5G smartphone in the market to be commercially available.
Xiaomi Mi 9
Xiaomi also launched the Mi 9 which is 6.29-inch device that sports an Super AMOLED display and is lightweight at 173 grams. The display is HDR 10 compliant, just like the latest Samsung Galaxy S10 and the iPhone XS.
The Xiaomi Mi 9 too runs on the latest Snapdragon 855 processor coupled with RAM options of 6GB and 8GB. The company is only offering two storage options with this phone that are 64GB and 128GB, non-expandable of course.
The China-based tech giant has been very generous in the camera department as the Mi 9 comes with a triple rear camera setup.
At the back, the phone sports 48+16+12-megapixel cameras; comprising of a telephoto, a wide-angle and an ultra wide- angle sensor. The company says that the Mi 9 camera is the second highest rated camera in the DXO mark rating and the best in terms of video.
There is a 20-megapixel camera on the front, which also comes with AI based technology.
Xiaomi says that it is offering the fastest wirelessly charging phone with the Mi 9. The company says that the 3,300mAh battery of the Mi 9 can charge 100 percent wirelessly in 90 minutes thanks to the phone’s support for the 20W charger.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)